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Our Guide to Sending Care Packages to Your Service Member

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by Amanda Marksmeier, Guest Contributor

Whether you are shipping your first care package or your last it can be difficult to know what to include and what to leave out.

Items such as firearms, explosives and radioactive materials should not be included, but did you know many foreign countries ban the shipping and receiving of playing cards, used clothes and saccharine?

Our Guide to Sending Care Packages to Your Service Member

Themed care packages are all the rage. Not feeling creative? No problem, search Pinterest for military care package ideas.

Your Don’t Pack It Guide for Deployment Care Packages

Our service members deploy to countries with strict religious beliefs and rules. If you are sending care packages to countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria or any other predominately Muslim country do not pack pork products. Many people in these regions follow diets which prohibit foods made from pigs, so that means no bacon bits.

While we are on the subject of religion, anti-Muslim books, articles, and movies are strictly forbidden so don’t send them. Also, anything considered lewd or pornographic should not be included. It is important to be respectful of others’ customs and beliefs.

Cash and high-valued items should be left at home. Packages can “disappear,” be damaged or simply lost in the mail.

Pro-tip: if you can’t afford to lose it, don’t pack it!

This goes for items that hold sentimental value as well. While you may be tempted to send family heirlooms don’t, these items can’t be replaced if lost or damaged.

What You Should Send in Deployment Care Packages

Now comes the fun part, what you can include in a care package.

Non-perishable food is the No. 1 requested item. Think canned tuna, instant meals, jerky, ramen, I could go on, but you get the idea. In many cases, soldiers miss meals due to missions or the inability to make it to the DFAC. Your service member will be grateful to have a meal from home after a long day.

Care packages are a perfect excuse to print all those pictures saved in your digital cloud. Service members can hang photos in their bunk, tape them to vehicles or keep them in the pockets of their uniforms.

It’s comforting to have photos of friends and family near you on deployment.

Fragrant soaps and washes should be packed separately in plastic bags. I once sent my husband a box of soaps (not in plastic bags) packed with candies. He ended up with candies that tasted like soap!

More Care Packages Tips

Mailing packages is expensive! The U.S. Post Office offers free flat rate boxes to help with the costs. Care packages in flat rate boxes can be sent to APO/FPO/DPO at domestic shipping rates.

Save a trip to the post office by ordering your shipping supplies for free through the USPS website. Schedule a pick-up, pay for shipping and complete the customs forms all online at https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm.

Oh, those darn customs forms! Don’t be afraid. Custom forms aren’t as scary as they appear. All you need is your service member’s address, the list of items and an estimated value of each item in the care package.

The Click-N-Ship option on the USPS website walks through the steps to complete customs forms. Custom forms need to be completed for each package you send.

Related: Tips on Sending a Care Package to a Military Dog

Themed care packages are all the rage. Not feeling creative? No problem, borrow someone else’s ideas. Carefully crafted boxes are posted all over social media. Visit military spouse Facebook pages to ask for care package ideas. Also search Pinterest for military care packages. Have fun, be creative and think “inside” the box.

Books, movies and magazines make wonderful additions to care packages. Deployed service members work long hours in harsh conditions so when there is downtime entertainment is desperately needed.

I am sure everyone remembers the “Frozen” videos with service members belting out “Let it Go.” You know they watched the movie a dozen times to learn the song. Maybe we’ll be blessed with “This is Me” sing-a-longs in the future.

Add extra items so your service member can share with his or her battle buddies. Remember not everyone has someone to send them care packages.

The most important part of a care package is the “care” that is included. Packages remind the men and woman serving they have not been forgotten.

What questions do you have about sending care packages?

Amanda Marksmeier is an Army wife and mother of four. She works as an employment specialist assisting the military community in achieving their career goals. Amanda is also a contributing writer for a quarterly employment journal and has written for several military affiliated blogs.

Creative Deployment Activities for Military Kids

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Deployments can be difficult for anyone, especially the kids. They look at time differently than we do which is why it is so important to keep them busy during a deployment. There might be a lot going on in your community so it is a good idea to fill your calendar with fun events as you find out about them. You should also plan some activities you can do with your kids that will help pass the time.

Composite of Calendar Pages and Clock

Here are some creative activities you can do with your kids during a deployment.

Plan to send a monthly care package and have your kids participate in it. Let them go with you to the store to pick out what you will send. When it comes time to package it all up, let them help with that too. They can put the items in it or they can draw inside the box. It is a great way to keep them connected to their deployed parent. It would be fun to do a holiday or seasonal themed box every month.

Another great thing you can do is create a countdown chain. Create enough links based on when you think the deployment will be over. Have your kids take turns tearing off a new link each day. If you need to add links later, that’s alright. Just try to explain to your kids why you have to do that. If they are young enough, you might not have to explain at all and can just add links as you need to when they are asleep.

Mother and daughter scrapbooking

Taking a lot of photos during a deployment is also a great idea. You can print them out and have your kids work on scrapbooks of all the fun activities you have done. The kids can decorate with stickers and markers and make the pages their own. It can be a great thing to show their mom or dad when they get home from deployment.

Weekly get-togethers are another great thing to do. This is especially true for the younger kids who are not in school yet. It is good for the parent at home as they will be able to spend some time with other children going through the same thing that they are. Find a group of other deployed spouses with young children and ask to see if anyone wants to set up a play date. You might be surprised at how many others would love to do something like that to pass the time.

For older children, you can have them make a deployment bucket list. They can add any parent approved activity they would like to do during the deployment. You can have them paint and then write it on a Popsicle stick and put them in a mason jar. As the months go on, you can do each of the activities that they have picked and make a record of it. This would go along well with the scrapbook.

Deployments are stressful but they don’t have to be boring. There is a lot you can do to help your kids have fun, even when a parent is far away.

What creative activities do you and your kids do to pass the time during a deployment?

Care package: For the Love of Music

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Care packages are a strong link between me and my husband and I always want to make sure that the ones that I send are from the heart and entertaining.  The best packages are the ones that are fun to make and fun to open – sometimes literally (once I made a puzzle care package, but I packed it in layers and layers of tape, boxes, and ribbon – making it a puzzle in itself just to get open!) If your servicemember’s favorite thing is music, you’re going to love this care package idea!

For the love of music

  • Compile a new CD (or use a USB drive) to include newer songs they have missed while overseas.
  • Include books or magazines featuring their favorite bands.
  • Pack a T-shirt with their favorite band or a music-theme on it (Bonus points if you spray it with your perfume/cologne).

Using Downtime to Play or Learn The Guitar

music care package, military care package, unique care package

  • Send a cheap guitar or even a smaller kids guitar – like the little ones sold in toy stores – same frets, same things to learn.
  • Add Classical guitar music – either as CD or USB drive
  • Complete training system (like Fretlight, which includes everything you need to learn to play).

If they don’t have a lot of downtime – or you’re afraid to send an actual guitar or instrument for them to play on – try some of these apps that will keep their skills sharp or just allow a little bit of fun.

 

And maybe consider taking up the hobby yourself – how romantic would it be if YOU learned their favorite song while they were gone? *cue: awwww…*

Coach Guitar: This free app doesn’t require any equipment and can be used on an iphone or iPad.
Tunewiki: Turns any mobile device into a karaoke machine by providing lyrics to the songs playing.
Sir Sampleton: This $2.99 app allows you to mix beats and save recordings, making it something that’s fun for all ages and skill-levels.

As always, don’t forget to send a little love in whatever care package you decide to send. Best bets are chocolate chip cookies, photos, cards and letters.

photo credit

Best Winter Care Package Items

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If you have a loved one overseas, you know how important unique care packages can be. Now that we are into the winter months, they might be craving something extra special from home. It is best to send healthy foods in your food care packages so that your service member can keep up their strength and be in the best health they can be.

Sending a care package soon? Check out some of these ideas to answer the question, “what food can I put into care packages?”

• A Larabar from General Mills might be a good idea. You can find them in 16 different flavors, all of which are gluten, dairy and soy free. Each bar is made up of fruits, nuts and spices. If you think they would prefer a more traditional granola bar you can include some Nature Valley bars which are also made by General Mills.

• You can also include some protein powder in the package. This would make for a healthy drink and you can purchase it is different flavors. Find out what your service member would enjoy.

• Teas can be a fun addition to the care package. Your best bet is to send in packets that can be added to water. That way, they can easily make their tea while overseas. You can add a variety of flavors for your loved one to enjoy.

Remember when packaging everything up to make sure it is sealed well. A vacuum seal will ensure that the food stays fresh. Don’t forget to include a personal item such as a nice letter or a picture drawn by the kids. Just little reminders from home can help with the homesickness. Have your children help you pack it and even let them decorate the inside of the box. They can color or add stickers to make it look festive.

Whatever care package ideas you use, your service member will be greatly appreciated. Men and Women serving overseas greatly enjoy those packages sent from home.